Posted by Cindy on January 12, 2008
Have you ever heard of Warm Fuzzies for Cancer Patients? I hadn’t either, but our 4-H extension agent did some research and found this wonderful program for us to take part. Groups (or individuals) make fleece lap blankets and donate them to cancer centers. So, that’s what our 4-H group did this week. Our blankets were headed to Markey Cancer Center in Lexington, KY. That’s our pile of rolled blankets and all the loving and capable hands that made them.
Making the blankets is a cinch. You take one yard of fleece and cut 4″ squares out of the corners. Then, cut slits up 4″ about an inch apart on all sides. Loosely tie two “slits” together in knots until you go all the way around the perimeter. There you have it – beautiful lap robes that kids can easily do on their own.
Here’s a site I found that gives directions for making your own fleece blankets. Have fun!
Posted by Cindy on November 7, 2007
Oh, I so want to be able to do wonderful handicrafts! Crafts so beautiful they are worthy to be placed in a cozy little shop on Main Street and sell out the day they hit the shelves. I would love to quilt, sew clothes for my children, knit colorful sweaters, make bars and bars of homemade soap and lotions, concoct all my own cleaning potions, and decorate a wreath Martha Stewart would want to hang on her door.
Even more so, I would love to pass down all those wonderful handicraft abilities to my children. But, alas, no cozy little shop has approached me. They probably have little need for the straight-stiched curtains that hang a little crooked in my bedroom. They probably have no need for a pile of scrap fabrics that I’ve never had time to turn into a pillow for my couch. They probably don’t need my wreaths whose decorations may or may not stay on long enough for the season to pass.
But, I try. I pass on to my children what I know and hope the Lord will bless them enough to be able to take those skills farther than me, if He so desires. I think this plan is working pretty well. My oldest (10)can sew a button, use a sewing machine, knit, crochet, follow a pattern, cook, bake, clean, do laundry, create small floral arrangement, and decorate her room nicely, among other things.
I’ve taught her some of these things, but the Lord has also sent some very lovely people into her life to teach her the things I don’t know. For instance, she really wanted to learn to knit. I haven’t a clue! But, our 91 year old neighbor loves to knit and has been working with my daughter occasionally! I also pick up how-to books at yard sales – how to sew, how to plant a flower garden, how to do small woodworking projects. Both my older children devour the how-to books. They’ve learned a lot (through trial and error sometimes) on their own.
Finally, my daughter is part of a Keepers At Home group and my son is taking a Contenders of the Faith class this year at co-op. I can’t speak highly enough of these programs to teach both boys and girls handicraft and life skills! The Contenders teacher is doing a wonderful job teaching “boy skills” like outdoor survival, fire safety and using tools correctly. Our Keepers group uses the various talents of each of the moms involved to teach the girls homekeeping and handicraft skills. We even schedule outside speakers and field trips sometimes.
Take it from me, your children can learn all the handicrafts they like and need even if you are “craftless”. It just takes a little bit of effort to find others who love sharing their gifts and talents with your children. And, never count yourself out as being “craftless”. When you really think about it, there are all sorts of wonderful skills, habits and crafts you are passing on to your children – even if they aren’t worthy of sitting on the shelf at the cozy little shop on Main Street.
Here are some other posts about our Keepers At Home group.
The Beginning of Our Group
Scrapbooking Day
Paper Quilling
A Christmas Party
A Service Project
Potholders
Fire Safety
Cake Decorating
Florist
Posted by Cindy on October 17, 2007
We celebrated my 36th birthday this week. Mahayla had such big plans for a homemade cake with homemade chocolate icing. The cake was wonderful, but to her dismay, we didn’t have enough powdered sugar in the pantry to make icing. So, we simply sprinkled the little bit of powdered sugar over the fresh cake and it was scrumptious anyway! Caleb lit a few candles, then my wish was made.
Everyone gave me sweet cards and Mahayla even crocheted two cute little pot holders. She said they’re for the salt and pepper shakers – and they do fit perfectly! How she kept that project a secret, I’ll never know.
I want to send a special thank you out to my family, church and co-op friends who remembered my birthday. I’m not even sure how some of them knew it was my birthday?? 
) Thirty-six isn’t so bad when you are loved by so many. I love you all, too!
Posted by Cindy on September 5, 2007
Grandma, read no further!
Here’s an idea from the Holidays Around the Year book that we did as part of our seasonal Friday lesson last week.
We learned the science behind suminagashi art (marbling paints) and created beautiful card covers. Inside the kids have written letters to both sets of grandparents for Grandparent’s Day. We finished them off with some raffia decoration and, voila, a great keepsake for the grandparents (and a nice science and writing lesson for school!)
**Editing to add: I bought a marbling ink set several years ago that has lasted me forever. That’s what we used. You can find something similar here. I’m sure you can make your own inks, but I haven’t been successful finding a recipe on the internet. If you find one, I’m sure others would appreciate you passing it along in the comments! 
Posted by Cindy on April 6, 2007
It’s Spring Break around here this week. Even though we weren’t on Spring Break, we took advantage of some special programs being offered in the area – and what fun they’ve been!
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings the 4-H/Extension Office offered classes – an oil pastels art class, basket making, electricity (lamp making) and a horticulture class. They were WONDERFUL! Here’s a picture of the projects.
Wednesday afternoon was our regularly scheduled Keepers At Home meeting. This week’s class was taught by my Mom and the topic was CAKE DECORATING! The girls all seemed to have a great time. My Mom sent them all home with their very own decorating tip and a little booklet of cake decorating how-to’s. It was a messy day, but beautiful cakes were created. Here’s a picture of Mahayla’s finished product. Thank you, Momma!
EclecticEducation left a comment letting me know she saw my blog was nominated for a couple of blog awards. I think I have Nancy from Nancysnook to thank for those nominations. 
Thank you, Nancy! You can see all the nominees’ sites at www.homeschoolblogawards.com – there are some really helpful blogs out there!
